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Virgin Trains Cheapest fares?

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danfitz123

danfitz123

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Hi everyone,
Im wondering when is the best time to buy cheap advanced return fares from Liverpool lime street to Euston? Im don't know much about advanced fares so sorry if this this is a stupid question. It has to be on a weekday. Thanks
 
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ainsworth74

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Well the day they come out would be when they are cheapest. Judging from this Virgin fares are now available up to the 23rd of December. There is no specific time of day when it is better to book, simply the further in advance you can book the cheaper they will be. So advances for the 23rd of December will be cheaper than advance for 12th of October.
 
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yorkie

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3 hrs 45 mins (with 11 min connection at CRE) isn't that bad actually when you consider the walk-on fares are very reasonable, the trains are comfortable (and not cramped) with good views out of the windows.

Fares from £24 return (without any railcard discounts) that works out at £12 each way walk-on, compared to over £66 (around triple the price!) for the Any Permitted to use Virgin, for around 1.5 hours extra journey time on a more comfortable train, with more tables.
 
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ainsworth74

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If you want specific advice then you will have to tell us the date, time and if you hold any railcards. If you can furnish us with this info then I'm sure someone will be able and willing to help you! :)

Yorkie beat me to it with the advice :lol:
 
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tony_mac

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it's often 3+2 seating - and I certainly find it cramped and uncomfortable.

They have more tables, and more windows, but I certainly find them a long way from being as comfortable as a pendolino. (For very many reasons, certainly not limited to just the seats).
It is a good price for a walk-up ticket, but personally I have a railcard, so it's simply not worth it.

I saw someone here mention the Megatrain tickets at least a couple of months ago, as I wasn't aware of them either until then.
They don't seem to be widely advertised, but they don't have great availability either. They are cheap, though!
 
danfitz123

danfitz123

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ainsworth74 said:
If you want specific advice then you will have to tell us the date, time and if you hold any railcards. If you can furnish us with this info then I'm sure someone will be able and willing to help you! :)

Yorkie beat me to it with the advice :lol:
Click to expand...

The journey is for 2 adults with no railcards. Im thinking of going december/january time. thanks for the help guys ;)
 
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John @ home

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danfitz123 said:
Im wondering when is the best time to buy cheap advanced return fares from Liverpool lime street to Euston?
Click to expand...

danfitz123 said:
The journey is for 2 adults with no railcards. Im thinking of going december/january time.
Click to expand...
You can check booking horizons here.

For travel on a weekday before Christmas book now.

Advance tickets are now sold as singles only, you you have to buy one in each direction for a return journey.

Avoid booking with a site which charges a booking fee, such as thetrainline. You can book with any train company and avoid this. You don't need to book with the company you travel with, but sometimes companies have discounts or special offers available only on their own site. For Liverpool - London, try Virgin and London Midland.
 
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cuccir

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I should point out that the booking horizons website is currently incorrect.

Last Wednesday (6th October) I purchased an advance ticket for Manchester Picadilly to Gatwick Airport for 27th December for £12.55 (with railcard). A quick search on the Virgin websites finds advance tickets on sale up to and including 31st December at the moment, at least on the Manchester to London route.
 
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tony_mac

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I have found it's usually a few days out for Virgin fares.

It looks like Megatrain are only booking until November, and they only ever seem to have a couple of trains a day, so it may be worth booking a normal advance fare before the Megatrain tickets are released.
 
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Pumbaa

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RE: the megatrain tickets, for Liverpool, the only trains that are released for megatrain tickets are the 1207/2107 from Euston M-F, 2107 Sat/Sun and the 1348/1448 from Liverpool M-Sat, 1348 Sun.
 
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tony_mac

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it looks like it works to me, but not many dates are available.
Tried 1st / 2nd of November?
 
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